Earth-moving machine with load-distributing auger



W. CARSTON Oct. 13, 1970 EARTH-MOVING MACHINE WITH LOAD-DISTRIBUTING AUGER Filed Jan. 10, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ana-Irv: 4/41 rar- 6419x744! irragwnx Oct. 13, 1970 w, CARSTQN 33,533,174

EARTH-MOVING MACHINE WITH LOAD-DISTRIBUTING AUGER Filed Jan. 10, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,533,174 EARTH-MOVING MACHINE WITH LOAD- DISTRIBUTING AUGER Walter Carston, 221 S. Front St., Delano, Calif. 93215 Filed Jan. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 696,824 Int. Cl. E02f 3/62 US. Cl. 37-8 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-loading earth mover is disclosed including a scoop-like transport bowl, borne on wheels, which bowl incorporates a cutting blade at its forward end to break up earth for progressive movement into the bowl as the machine moves forward. An auger or screw structure is centrally mounted in the bowl in a position so that its axis is slightly offset from vertical and it functions to distribute and compact the earth load in the bowl as it is received. A front apron or gate is also provided in the structure to close the forward end of the bowl during periods when a load is to be transported. Structure is also included for unloading the bowl by tiltingly lifting it relative to its bed so that the auger is also tilted forward from the vertical (toward the open side of the bowl) to thereby assist in discharging the load through the forward end from which it is spilled.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Earth-moving machines of the type generally termed motor scrapers have been proposed in a wide variety of different forms for specific applications and capability. However, almost invariably, a problem in the design and manufacture of such machines involves the provision of a loading arrangement to effectively distribute and compact the load as it is received in the bowl, so as to effectively utilize the capacity of the machine. As a related consideration, the system also must have the capability to discharge its load cleanly and effectively; as well, ideally at a somewhat controlled rate.

Considering the problem in greater detail, in accordance with conventional practice, motor scrapers are driven over the terrain which is to be modified and in the course of such movement they perform cuts and fills in the earth to accomplish the desired configuration. Conventionally, the cutting blade is fixed at the forward edge of the scraper can or bowl, so that earth that is cut loose by the cutting blade flows into the bowl as the machine moves forward. However, loading a motor scraper to capacity by this technique alone generally is not effective. That is, usually (except in ideal soil) the flow of earth into the bowl that is attendant the forward motion of the machine, does not develop the desired load distribution in the bowl, nor does it compact the load. As a result, many different types of loading structures have been proposed for cooperative use with motor scrapers to accomplish a dense, well distributed load with earth that is received from the cutting blade or scraper. Although certain forms of such structures have been relatively efficient, a substantial need continues to exist for a loading system which will operate in cooperation with a transport bowl and which will provide increased operating efficiency by compacting the received load in a well distributed pattern and which may be incorporated in various forms of earth-moving apparatus.

In general, the present invention resides in the discovery that an earth auger or helical screw member, of somewhat critical size, may be mounted in a somewhat critical (generally vertical) position within the bowl of an earthmoving apparatus, and operated at a somewhat critical ice speed to accomplish very effective loading of the bowl. The auger is fixed in the bowl in such a manner as to receive loose earth from a cutting blade as the bowl is moved forward, and is employed during both loading and unloading operations to accomplish dense loads during loading, and effective removal of such loads from the bowl during unloading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION'OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partly-sectional side elevation of a motor scraper incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, showing the motor scraper loaded with earth as for transport operation;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 showing the motor scraper in a configuration to discharge a load of earth;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken vertically through a portion of the structure of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT As required, a detailed illustrative embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the embodiment merely exemplifies the invention which may be constructed in many different forms that are radically different from the specific relatively-small motor scraper disclosed herein. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely considered as a basis for the claims defining the true scope of the invention.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, the unit is shown to include a tractor 11 coupled to a trailer 12 incorporating a can or bowl 13 carried on a chassis along with the loading structure hereof, generally indicated at 15. As indicatcd above, it is to be stressed that although the exemplary structure discloses a drawing tractor, the system hereof may take a variety of different forms wherein the bowl is variously pushed, pulled, self-propelled, or otherwise moved in a manner to cut and/ or scrape earth so as to accumulate a load which is received and distributed by the structure 15.

As disclosed herein, the tractor 11 may be a somewhat conventional machine including an engine 16, driving wheels 18, and an operators station 20 at which a steering wheel 22 and a seat 24 are provided. The operator will also be provided with various hydraulic controls (not shown) for the operation of the trailer 12 to accumulate a load and discharge it. However, various hydraulic systems as well known in the prior art may be employed to control the hydraulic motors and actuators as described below, and such well-known apparatus is therefore not described in detail. Also, the engine 16 will normally function to provide hydraulic fluid under pressure for utilization by various controls as well known in the prior art.

The tractor 11 is coupled to the trailer 12 by a hitch 26, which may comprise any of a variety of conventional universal structures as well-known in the art, and which permits pivotal motion between the tractor 11 and the trailer 12, yet affords a positive enagernent therebetween and a reference for out adjustments.

In the trailer 12 the bowl 14 comprises a somewhatopen scoop structure including a bottom 25, two sides 27, and rear or back wall 29, all supported on the reinforced, mating chassis 14, the rear end of which is borne on a running gear including wheels 30.

The chassis 14 may comprise a plurality of steel beams 32, welded or otherwise fixed together with wall sections as an integral unit, which defines a bed 34 that nestingly receives the bowl 13. More specifically, the exterior of the bed 34 includes an array of reinforcing beams 35 (FIG. 2) which support a bottom 37 (FIG. 1), sides 39, and a rear wall 41, all of the bed 34.

At the forward end of the bed 34, (which is fixed relative the frame 28) a pivot structure 36 joins the bed to the bowl 13 whereby the bowl can be tilted forwardly to discharge a load of earth. Considering this structure in greater detail, the forward edge 38 of the bowl 13 is aflixed to the transverse pivot 36 which is supported in the bed 34. A cutting blade 40 then extends forward and downward from the pivot structure 36 opposed to the bowl 13.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cutting blade 40 is somewhat angularly offset from alignment with the bottom of the bowl 13; however, it is wedge-supported to be fixed against counterclockwise motion about the pivot structure 36. Thus, the blade 40 may be directed into an earth cut so as to feed loose earth into the bowl 13 and to the loading structure 15 (FIG. 1) which distributes and compacts the earth load 44 in the bowl 13. In this regard, it is to be noted that the cutting blade 40 is led by a pair of Side bits 46 aflixed at the forward lower sides of the chassis 14. The bits 46 accomplish leading earth cuts defining the cut for the blade 40.

The actual depth of an excavation or earth cut is determined by the level at which the blade 40 operates, which is established by a hydraulic actuator 48 (FIG. 1, shown in phantom) which is af'fixed between draw bars or towing arms 50 and the rigid coupling 26. More specifically, the hydraulic rams or actuators 48 extend from extension arms 52 rearward to be aflixed to the pulling or drawing arms 50 by a pair of brackets 54 (shown in phantom). The rear ends of the drawing arms 52 are then affixed to the base of the chassis 14 by a pivot structure 56. Therefore, by variously adjusting the length of the actuators 48, the front end of the pivoted chassis 14 is variously raised and lowered so as establish the operating level of the cutting blade 40.

Earth that is excavated by the blade 40 flows into the bowl' 13 to feed the loading structure 15 and become distributed as will be considered in detail below. However, preliminarily considering the component parts of the structure 15, a central stem or axle 58 of the screw auger is mounted between sets of self-aligning bearings for low-friction rotation. Specifically, the lower end of the axle 58 is received in a floor housing 60 while the upper end is fixed into a gear box 62 that is held in place by a transverse frame or yoke 64 (FIG. 4) extending between the sides 27 of the bowl 13. The lower end of the auger axle 58 (FIG. carries a turret flange or shield 66, below which it is stepped to be received through a seal 68 and into a self-aligning bearing 70 that is set in a bearing cage 72, surrounded by a circular array of bores 76 through the floor of the bowl 13. These bores provide an exit for earth which slips under the shield 66.

Above the housing 60 (FIG. 1) the auger axle 58 supports a screw auger 76 having a relatively shallow pitch and terminating at the gear box 62. The gear box 62 incorporates a bearing 80 for supporting the auger axle 58 and encloses a pair of gear wheels 82 and 84, which couple the auger axle 58 to a drive motor 86.

In the illustrative embodiment, the drive motor 86 is hydraulic and may be driven from a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure provided from the engine 16 of the tractor as disclosed above. Of course, in various other arrangements incoroprating the present invention, the motor 86 may take different forms or may be differently powered.

In view of the above, preliminary structural description of the embodiment illustratively presented herein, a complete understanding may now best be accomplished by assuming certain desired objectives, then explaining the attendant sequence of events concurrently with the introduction of additional component parts. Therefore, assume initially that the system is being drawn forward by the tractor 11 and is cutting earth to develop a load 44 substantinally as shown in FIG. 1. As the unit moves forward, the side bits 46 define a section of earth with small trenches, which section is then excavated by the blade 40 and lifted, in somewhat of a flowing manner, to be received by the screw auger loading structure 15. As the dirt flows upwardly to the screw auger 78, it is lifted by the helical motion pattern upwardly and outwardly to be compacted within the bowl 13. The movement of the dirt or earth by the auger loading structure 15 is sufliciently forceful to compact the earth about the screw auger 78, developing a channel through which fresh earth may pass to the upper surface of the load.

In general, the loading structure 15 may be operated at a wide variety of speeds; however, in one successful operating embodiment hereof speeds between 200 and 300 revolutions per minute have been found particularly effective for a rather wide range of soils, using a screw auger with a pitch of less than thirty degrees.

As another somewhat critical feature of this structure, it is to be noted that the auger 78 is tilted from the horizontal at a slight angle toward the rear or load-receiving portion of the bowl 13. Again, certain installations may require particular structures; however, in onesuccessful operating embodiment hereof, it has been found desirable to offset the auger 78 from the vertical by an angle of less than 25 degrees, e.g., 15 degrees in a specific example to accomplish successful loading as well as to accommodate the forward tilt of the bowl 13.

Still another somewhat-critical aspect of the structure resides in the size of the auger 78. It has been found desirable to provide the width of the auger 78 less than half the width of the cutting blade 40 (FIG. 4). That is, it has been established that the flow of earth received from the cutting blade 40 by the auger 78 should be substantially wider than the operating width of the auger. In general, although this criterion is not readily apparent, it results from the application in which the anger is loading earth into its housing rather than moving earth through a housing.

Considering the operation hereof further, as the unit continues to move forward, earth continues to flow into the bowl 13 to be distributed by the auger structure until the load 44 reaches a guard 90 (extending across the rear of the chassis 14). At such a time (when the bowl 13 is substantially full) the front portion thereof is closed by dropping an apron or gate 92 into a lowered position substantially as shown in FIG. 2. The gate 92 is carried on a pair of external lever arms 94 which are pivotally aflixed to the chassis 14 by pins 96. An offset extension 98 from each of the arms 94 is then pivotally affixed to hydraulic rams or actuators 100 as a bellcrank, so that as the actuators 100 are collapsed, the forward ends 102 of each of the arms 94 are lowered through a counterclockwise pattern placing the gate 92 in a closed position (abutting the cutting blade 40').

With the forward gate 92 lowered to a closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, the load may be transported to the location at which it is to be discharged. Normally, during such a period of movement, the hydraulic motor 86 (driving the screw auger 78) is deenergized so that the auger remains motionless.

Upon reaching the physical location at which the load 44 is to be discharged, the forward gate 92 is first raised to at least a partly open position. Next, the bowl 13 is tilted forward, in a counterclockwise direction as shown relative the chassis 14, thereby lifting the load 44 to a spilling position as indicated in FIG. 3. Considering the operation of discharging the load 44 in somewhat greater detail, the forward gate 92 is raised by actuating the hydraulic actuators 100 to extend their length so as to crank the arms 94 (substantially as bell-cranks) clockwise about the pivot pins 96 so that the gate 92 is elevated clear of the load. Subsequently, the bowl 13 is tipped forward under the force of a telescopic hydraulic ram or actuator 110 (FIG. 3). The actuator 110 is affixed to an extension 112 from the rear wall 29 of the bowl 13, so that as the actuator 110 expands telescopically, the load 44 is spilled forwardly passing through the auger structure 15.

In discharging of the load 44, it is generally advisable to operate the auger structure 15 by energizing the motor 86, which operation tends to aid in spreading the dirt effectively during a fill operation. That is, in some instances, discharging a load from a bowl deposits a concentrated mass of earth. However, by the utilization of the present system, the auger structure 15 may be employed to discharge the earth so that it is spread more uniformly as it passes from the bowl 13.

Thus, the structure hereof includes several important aspects, as considered above, the major of which resides in the efiicient operation resulting from better load distribution and the facility of a unit to accomplish a relatively compact load without auxiliary tamping or other structure. Of course, as indicated above, the system hereof may be readily adapted to provide a wide variety of different specific structures and may be incorporated in a wide variety of difierent machines; therefore, the system as disclosed herein is to be deemed merely an exemplary embodiment and the scope hereof shall not be restricted accordingly but rather shall be interpreted in accordance with the claims set forth below.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-loading earth moving machine, adapted to be moved between loading and unloading positions, comprismg:

a bowl structure for receiving a load of earth and including a bottom and means for providing an opening in the front of said bowl structure through which earth is received;

means for propelling said bowl structure forwardly over earth to be excavated;

cutter means aflixed at the front of said bowl structure at said opening, for excavation of earth into said bowl through said opening as said bowl is propelled over earth to be excavated, and

an open, unshielded screw auger, including an axle,

mounted in said bowl with the lower end of said axle mounted for rotation on said bowl bottom rearward of said opening of said bowl, said auger being tilted rearward from its mounting on said bowl bottom to define an angle with the "vertical, of between 5 degrees and 25 degrees, whereby said auger receives excavated earth from said cutter means to distribute such earth in said bowl structure.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said auger includes drive means for turning said auger at between 200 and 300 revolutions per minute.

3. An earth moving machine according to claim 1 wherein said bowl comprises an open-ended scoop and wherein said cutter means is aflixed thereto, and further including means for tilting said scoop whereby to discharge the contents thereof over said cutter means.

4. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said auger has a width of less than one half of the width of said cutter means and said machine further includes means to tilt said auger to a position in which it is inclined to the vertical in a direction opposite to said tilted direction during unloading of said bowl structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,397,994 11/1921 Von Canon 374 1,477,212 12/1923 Eckertz 374 2,104,191 1/1938 Flynn 198-404 XR 2,387,263 10/1945 Hoar 37l26 2,418,554 4/1947 Kadz 37-126 2,463,523 3/1949 Davidson 37l26 2,566,926 8/1951 Elliott et al 378 2,984,026 5/1961 Thompson et al. 37-126 3,431,659 3/1969 Eiger 37126 XR EDGAR S. BURR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 37129 

